Reclining-chair



(No Model.\ v 2 SheetsSh eet 1.

R. RICHARDS.

. RBGLINING CEAIR, 001, OR LOUNGE.

No. 572,277. Patented Dec. 1. 1896.

WITNESS.- r v VEN TOR By I v g,

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet '2.

- R. RICHARDS.

REGLININGGHAIR, GOT, OR LOUNGE. No. 572,277. Patented-Dec. 1, 1896.

mviikllllililwllllw' & 1/7

A TTORNEKT.

m: norms PlTERS cu. wuurcxuruon WASHINGTON. n. w

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ROBERT RICHARDS, OF' BROOKLYN, NEV YORK.

RECLlNlNG-CHAIR,

COT, OR LOUNGE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 572,277, dated December 1, 1896. Application filed May 23, 1896. Serial No. 592,744. (No model.)

and similar articles; and the object thereof is to provide an improved combination device of this class which may be used as a chair, a cot, or a sofa, as occasion may require.

The invention is fully disclosed in the fol lowing specification, of which the accompanying drawings form a part, in which Figure 1 is a side view of my improved article of furniture when used as a chair and showing also a detachable foot-rest; Fig. 2, a side view thereof when used as a cot; Fig. 3 a plan view of the device as shown in Fig. 2; Fig. 4, a side view of the device when used as a sofa; and Figs. 5, 6, and 7 are side views of details of the construction which I employ. Fig. 8 is a detailed perspective View of the side bars of a head-rest.

In the practice of my invention I provide a chair which comprises two similar side bars, which are designated by the reference-numeral 5, and which constitute a part of the seat, and which are connected at their opposite endsby transverse rods 6 and 7, and the side bars 5 are provided at their rear ends with two forwardly-directed legs 8, which are pivotally connected with the transverse rod 6, and at their, forward ends with two legs 9, which are pivotally connected with the cross-rod 7, and said legs 8 and 9are crossed and pivotally connected at 10 by another rod, and the legs 9 are shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3 and in full lines in Figs. 1 and 2.

The forward ends of the side bars 5 are provided with blocks 11 which are secured thereto, and to the inner ends of which are secured pins 12, provided with heads 13, and the back of the chair consists of upright side bars 14, which are provided with headed pins 15, and

I also provide arms 16, which are curved, as

shown in Fig.1, and the ends of which are provided with slots 17, which are adapted to engage with the pins 12 and 15, by which they are held in place.

The lower ends of the upright side bars 14 of the back are provided with longitudinal slots 18, which open downwardly by means of slots 19, Which are formed at right angles to the slots 18, and the side bars 5 of the chair are provided with headed pins 20, and the upper ends of the upright side bars 14 of the back of the chair are connected by a cross rod or bar at 21, on one end of which is mounted a ratchet-wheel 22, and a pivoted pawl 23 (shown in dotted lines in Figs. 1 and 2) is adapted to operate in connection with said ratchet-wheel, and the upright rods 14 of the back are also connected by a cross-bar 24, as shown in Fig. 3. which consists of two similar side bars 25, as shown in Figs. 1 and 7, and the outer ends of said side bars are circular in form, as shown at 26, and pivotally connected therewith at 27 are legs 28, and the rear ends of the side bars are connected by a cross-bar 29, and

the lower ends of the legs 28 are similarly connected by a cross-bar 30, and extending from the cross-bar 30 to the cross rod or bar 29 is a connecting-rod 31, which is formed in two sections, the separate sections being connected at 32, and said sections are detachably Ialso provide a foot-rest,

with a cover of canvas, as shown at 31, and

a similar cover or strip of canvas 35 is connected with the cross rod or bar 7 of the chair andextends backwardly and is tacked to or otherwise secured to the cross rod or bar 6, as shown at 36 in Fig. 3, and is then carried upwardly between the upright side bars 14 of the back of the chair and connected with the cross rod or bar 21 at the top thereof.

It will be apparent that the foot-rest may be detached from the chair whenever desired or connected therewith as occasion may require, and the chair proper may be folded into'the position shown in Fig. 2 by disconnecting the arms 16 therefrom and raising the upright side bars 14 of the back and lowering the same into the position shown in Fig. 2, in which position the pins 20, which are secured to the side bars 5, may be made to enter the slots 19 in the upright side bars 14 of the back, in which position the back will be parallel with the seat of the chair or with the side bars 5 thereof. I also provide two braces or legs 37, which are pivotally connected with the upright side bars 14 of the back at 38, and pivotally connected with the legs or braces 37 at 39 by means of a cross rod or bar are short braces or legs 40, the upper ends of which are provided with semicircular notches or recesses 40, which are adapted to abut against the transverse rod or bar 21, which connects the upper end of the upright side bars 14 of the back, and by this means the outer end of the back will be supported when in the horizontal position shown in Fig. 2, and the frame, consisting of the legs or braces 37 and the short braces or legs 40, is adapted to be folded between the upright side bars 14 of the back when the device is used as a chair, as shown in Fig. 1. I also provide a frame 41, which is adapted to serve as a support for a head-rest when the device is used as a cot, and said frame consists of two side bars 42, which are adapted to be detachably connected with the ends of the upright side bars 14 of the back by means of a tongue-andgroove construction,as shown at 43, said bars 14 of the back being provided with transverse and inclined grooves 44, into which the lower ends of the side bars 42 of the support for the head-rest are passed, being prevented from downward movement therein by shoulders 42 thereon, and said frame 41 is held at a backward inclination, as shown in Fig. 2, and said side bars 42 thereof are connected by means of a strip 45 of canvas or other flexible material, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, and formed in the ends of said strip 45 are slots or openings 46.

Any suitable form of a head-rest, pillow,

' or other device may be supported by the frame 41 when the device is used as a cot, and in order to convert the device into a sofa I provide a frame 47, the upper portion of which is upholstered, as shown at 48, and said frame consists of suitable side bars, the rear ends of which pro 3 ect,as shown at 49, and said projecting ends are adapted to pass between the lower endsof the side bars-42 of the frame 41, as shown in Fig. 4, and the frame 47 is provided nearits opposite ends with a depending shoulder or projection 50, which passes between the side bars 5 of the chair-seat, as shown in dotted lines at 5], and which serves to retain the frame 47 in position, and I also provide a head-rest 52, consisting of a suitable frame 53, having side bars which are inclined upwardly and curved backwardly, and said frame is also upholstered, asshown at 54, and the side bars thereof are provided at the back of the frame with backwardly-directed shoulders or projections 55, which fit between the side bars 42 of the frame 41, and at its lower end the frame 53 is provided centrally with a depending and backwardly-directed projection 56, which abuts against the end of the frame 47 and which serves to assist in holding the said frame in proper position. These features of construction are best shown in Figs. 4, 5, and 6, and it will be understood that the strip 35, which forms a part of the seat of the chair and also of the back thereof, may be composed of canvas, leather, or any desired flexible material, and that it maybe tightened at any time by turning the rod or bar 21, on which the ratchet-wheel 22 is mounted, and the pawl 23 will hold said ratchet-wheel and the rod or bar 21 in the required position. It will thus be seen that I provide a simple and effective device which may be used as a chair or as a cot or as a sofa,and that a foot-rest may be employed in connection with the chair whenever desired; and it will also be seen that all that is necessary to convert the chair into a cot is to detach the foot-rest and the arms of the chair and then lower the back thereof into the'posi-tion shown in Fig. 2, and in order to convert the cot into a sofa all that is necessary is to place the upholstered frame 47 and the head-rest 52 thereon.

This device is simple in construction and operation and is perfectly adapted to accomplish the result for which it is intended, and it is evident that changes in and modifications of the construction herein described may be made without departing from the spirit of my invention or sacrificing its advantages.

The forward or upper ends of the legs 9 of the chair may be detachably connected with the cross rod or bar 7, if desired, and in this event the legs 8 and 9 may be folded adjacent to the bottom of the chair, as will be readily understood, and I reserve the right to make all such alterations therein and modifications thereof as fairly come within the scope of the invention.

Having fully described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. A chair, comprising side bars, which c011- stitute a part of the seat and which are suitably connected by cross rods or bars, at each end thereof, legs pivotally connected with the opposite ends of said side bars, and crossed, and pivotall y connected where crossed, a back consisting of upright side bars, pivot-bars connectedwith the rear ends of the side bars of the seat, and the legs connected therewith, longitudinal slots formed in. the side bars of the back and engaging the pivot-bars, said longitudinal slots being provided at their lower ends with transverse slots which open downwardly, detachable arms connecting said side bars of the back, and of the seat, and pins secured to the side bars of the seat and adapted to enter said slots, substantially as shown and described.

,the back and engaging the pivot-bars, said longitudinal slots being provided at their lower ends with transverse slots which open downwardly, detachable arms connecting said side bars of the back, and of the seat, and pins secured to the side bars of the seat and adapted to enter said slots, and said chair being also provided with a flexible strip, which constitutes a part of the seat, and which is carried upwardly and passed over a rod or bar at the top of the upright side bars, of the back, said rod or bar being provided with a ratchet-wheel, and a pawl which is pivotally connected with one of said upright side bars of the back, and adapted to operate in connection with said ratchet-wheel, substantially as shown and described.

3. A chair, comprising side bars,which constitute a part of the seat, and which are suitably connected by cross rods or bars, at each end thereof, legs pivotally connected with the opposite ends of said side bars, and crossed,

' and pivotall y connected where crossed, a back consisting of upright side bars, pivot-bars connected with the rear ends of the side bars of the seat, and the legs connected therewith, longitudinal slots, formed in the side bars of the back and engaging the pivot-bars, said longitudinal slots being provided at their lower ends with transverse slots which open downwardly,detachable arms connecting said side bars of the back, and of the seat, and pins secured to the side bars .of the seat and adapted to enter said slots, and said chair being also provided with a flexible strip,which constitutes a part of the seat, and which is carried upwardly, and passed over a rod or bar at the top of the upright side bars of the back, said rod or bar being provided with a ratchet-wheel, and a pawl which -is pivotally connected with one of said upright side bars of the back, and adapted to operate in connection with the ratchet-wheel, and said chair being also. provided with a detachable footrest, substantially as shown and described.

at. Achair, comprising side bars, which constitute a part of the seat, and which are suitably connected by cross rods or bars, at each end thereof, legs pivotally connected with the opposite ends of said side bars, and crossed, and pivotally connected where crossed, aback consisting of upright side bars, pivot-bars connected with the rear ends of the side bars of the seat, and the legs connected therewith,

longitudinal slots, formed in the side bars of the back and engaging the pivot-bars, said longitudinal slots being provided at their lower ends with transverse slots which open downwardly, detachable arms connecting said side bars of the back, and of the seat,and pins secured to the side bars of the seat and adapted to enter said slots, and said chair being also provided with a flexible strip, which constitutes a part of the seat, and which is carried upwardly, and passed over a rod or bar at the top of the upright side bars, of the back, said rod or bar being provided with a ratchetwheel, and a pawl which is pivotally connected with one of said upright side bars of the back, and adapted to operate in connection with the ratchet-wheel, and said chair being also provided with a detachable footrest, consisting of suitable side bars detachably connected with the seat of the chair, and which are provided at their outer ends with legs, said legs being connected with the forward end of the foot-rest, substantially as shown and described.

5. The combination with a chair, provided with detachable arms, and a back which is pivotally connected with the seat, and adapted to be lowered into a horizontal position, of a pivoted support connected with the upper end of said back, and adapted to support the same when lowered into a horizontal position, a detachable support for a head-rest, consisting of a suitable frame, which is adapted to be connected with the end of said back, and an upholstered frame, which is adapted to be placed upon the seat of the chair, andthe back, when the back is lowered into a horizontal position, and a head-rest which is also adapted to be connected with the detachable support therefor, substantially as shown and described.

6. A chair, provided with a seat, having legs pivotally connected therewith, said legs being crossed and pivotally connected, and a back which is pivotally connected with said seat, and which is adapted to be lowered into a horizontal position, and supported in such position, said back being also provided with a detachable frame for a head-rest, and an upholstered frame, which is adapted to be placed upon said chair, and said back when the latter is lowered into a horizontal position, and an upholstered head-rest, which is adapt ed to be placed upon said frame, substantially as shown and described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I have signed my name, in presence of the subscribing witnesses, this 19th day of May, 1896.

ROBERT RICHARDS.

WVitnesses:

O. GERST, A. O. McLoUoHLIN. 

